Slippery, slushy icy mess for evening commuters

By Andrea Bulfinch

abulfinch@fosters.com

fosters.com

By Andrea Bulfinch

abulfinch@fosters.com

Posted Jan. 29, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Andrea Bulfinch

abulfinch@fosters.com

Posted Jan. 29, 2013 at 3:15 AM

DOVER — Seacoast and Tri-City motorists had a snow-white and slushy Monday to start the week as flakes began falling just after noon and accumulating in time to make for a slippery and icy evening commute.

A winter weather advisory was issued early Monday morning warning travelers of the possibility of an icy wintry mix by the time many would be traveling home from work. Sure enough, by about 5 p.m., a slushy mix of snow and sleet had blanketed roadways, slowing drivers and causing numerous vehicles to slide off slippery roads.

Though a warm front that moved across the region brought a little reprieve from bitter cold temperatures that lasted throughout last week and through the weekend, it also brought a visible reminder of winter creating conditions prime for snow and an icy, drizzly winter mix.

The warning remains in effect until early morning today.

As the evening and overnight hours progressed, freezing rain and ice was expected while snow continued to taper off.

Meteorologists at NWS confirmed that most of the precipitation will have occurred overnight and turn to freezing drizzle by Tuesday morning.

Motorists are urged to use caution while driving and to be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibility for today’s morning commute.

Immediately following the snow and slush, another blast of Arctic air is predicted by meteorologists at Accuweather.com for the Northeast.

“A second pulse of stratospheric warming occurred during the middle of January is now sending another blast of Arctic air southward,” Mark Paquette, meteorologist, said.

Their forecast indicates that temperatures will be almost as bitter as those experienced last week, but not quite as frigid. The time frame is also not expected to last as long as the previous blast of cold air. Instead of a week of freezing temperatures, this bout is forecast to last only a few days.

The difference, however, will be how warm it has now been leading up to these future cold days as opposed to temperatures before the last chill.